The reality of the words of Scripture is evident. Within the Bible, there is no contradiction in the midst of 66 books being written by around 40 different authors over the course of around 1500 years and on 3 different continents. Over 300 prophecies have been directly fulfilled in the life and death of Jesus Christ. Not only that, the resurrection itself has outstanding historical evidence to support its claims.
The Bible is an amazing collection of historical documents with deep implications if, in fact, they are true. And, in fact, they are true. It is an unfortunate but true claim that there may be no amount of evidence that will convince the unbeliever. More truth often does not lead to more belief in that which is true. Instead more truth leads to an even greater denial of that which is true. Rationalizing and explaining away truth occurs more often than simply accepting it.
This is not something that is the case only in the current era but rather has been the problem from the beginning. Not long after God created man, man believed a lie and partook of the fruit of the tree. Satan is the father of lies and will continue to get others to believe his lies. Nevertheless, the truth of God’s Word must be told and shouted from the roof tops.
God’s Word is true, and it is not an idiot’s religion. It is full of good reasons to believe that what is being said is actually true. Christianity is not a crutch that people turn to because their life has fallen apart and they don’t know what to do with themselves. Christianity is full of people who recognize their life was never whole and finally found their Savior. The reality that Jesus existed is a fact, and so is His death, burial, and resurrection.
While there is not enough time to cover all there is on the topic of the reliability of Scripture, the beginning of the book of Acts lays out four crystal-clear reasons as to why the Christian believes what he believes. No longer must the Christian cower in a corner as unbelievers discuss their false beliefs.
Luke’s records are reliable because they are extensive
What many may not know is that Luke wrote more words than any other author of the New Testament. Paul wrote the most books, but as far as the words themselves are concerned, Luke wrote more than Paul. Luke says, “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach” (Acts 1:1). At the beginning of the books of Acts, Luke points to his other words, the book of Luke. Between these two writings, the books of Acts and Luke, Luke covers a large period of time and many events as a result.
In the events that Luke speaks of, he does so in great detail. He includes numerous amounts of people and multiple scenarios that would have consisted of many eyewitnesses. Why is all this important? If Luke’s documents had been written hundreds of years later, this could be a concern.
In ancient documents, there are times when what is referred to as “legend” will creep in. This is when documents are written with a spin on the truth. In other words, a story such as when Jesus turned water into wine may add that after He performed this miracle, the people then drank the wine, their eyes were opened, and they could see Jesus in His pre-transfigured state. Usually there is a spin on the truth or even just something absurdly false interjected. Legend usually finds its way into a story many years after the events themselves or the supposed events took place.
Luke wrote as both a first-century eyewitness and a second-hand eyewitness. This means that he either saw the events that he wrote about himself or he knew people that saw them. To accompany this, Luke wrote his documents during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses. Since he wrote during the first century, there would have been a slew of people that could have either corroborated his stories or exposed their falsehood.
Luke’s records are reliable because the Holy Spirit was involved
Scripture says, “Until the day which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen” (Acts 1:2). As Jesus gave His final commands through the Holy Spirit, so Luke also wrote his work through the Holy Spirit.
It would have been an impossibility for perfection to occur in the writings of Luke apart from the God’s divine intervention. Think for a moment. Can you perfectly remember the events that happened just yesterday? Of course not! How about the events that happened decades ago? There is no way! This seemingly leaves an issue with the writings of Scripture. It would be impossible for entirely reliable documents to emerge from flawed humanity apart from divine intervention.
However, Jesus promised in the book of John that His Spirit would come and that through the Holy Spirit what Jesus said would be remembered. Luke’s records are reliable because the Holy Spirit was involved.
Luke’s records are reliable because there were other eyewitnesses
A mark of false religion is documents comprised of one person’s teaching. Islam and the Quran have the “prophet” Muhammed. Mormons have their books that Joseph Smith compiled. Muhammed was away in a cave hidden – by himself – when he supposedly received the words from the angel Gabriel. Joseph Smith was out in an orchard somewhere – all by himself as well – when he claimed he was visited.
In both of these matters and others like them, there are no eyewitnesses. Even the Old Testament claims that the reliability of a claim must be established by two or three witnesses. Luke tells of the way that Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to many. Scripture says, “To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). Jesus rose from the dead and wasn’t shy about announcing His resurrection. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15 that Jesus appeared to more than 500 people after He rose.
Luke’s records are reliable because they are transformative
The book of Acts begins with the day of Pentecost. This day was a transformative day. The life of the people of God would never be the same. The saints would be equipped for the ministry like never before. They would become partakers of the divine nature.
Jesus promised the Holy Spirit. In the book of Acts, Luke records the event that changed the course of history and the heart of the people of God. The purpose of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit was transformative. God desired to be with His people in close and personal communion. He also desired that His people would be like Him.
Christianity is full of testimonies that declare, “I once was lost, but now I’m found.” It is full of people who have lived for self but now live for another. Christianity is full of people who have hated others but have grown to love. It is full of people who have been addicted to drugs and alcohol but are now experiencing the freedom that is in Christ.
All of this points to Pentecost. All of this points to Luke’s claims. Luke tells us that on Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out on believers, and they were never the same. He indirectly tells us that this Holy Spirit is for us too and that we also can experience newness of life.
Luke claimed that there would be transformation in the life of a believer. Therefore, one can see that Luke’s claims are verified through the lives of other Christians.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for being gracious to me this day. Help Me to see Your Word as truth. I pray that You would help me to trust You more and to believe what Your Word says. In Jesus’ name, Amen.